Ghostwalker 03 - Night Game

motorcycle, the very symbol of freedom to her, but all she could see was Raoul. If she could have, she would have thrown herself into his arms. As it was, she just stood staring at him, transfixed. He did look thinner, bum his shoulders were wide, his chest muscular, and his hair persisted in falling in waves no matter what he did to tame it. He made her weak-kneed, just looking at him.

    She was so glad he was there, alive and well and all in one piece, but she didn’t want him to see her like this.

    Straightening her spine, Flame drew in a deep breath and tried to look utterly confident.
    She touched the knitted cap she wore to make certain it was in place before crossing the room to touch her motorcycle. “Who did this?”

    Raoul straightened slowly and drank in the sight of her. It was the first time since the assault on the compound that she’d spoken to him and she was staring at the bike, not him. She looked pale. Ravaged. There were dark circles under her eyes and she wore a silly knitted cap that fit her head close. Her cast was gone and her arm had several noticeable scars from the alligator’s teeth. She looked beautiful to him. He’d missed her so badly he ached.

    “I did it myself. Didn’t want anyone else touching something you love. It runs like a dream. I can’t wait for you to try it out.”

    Flame glanced at him and then away. He realized she didn’t have eyebrows. His throat closed up. He’d been off gathering intelligence and she’d been here. Alone. Sick. He stepped closer to her. “ Mon Dieu , baby. I should have stayed with you.” He reached out a hand to frame her face but she sidestepped his touch.

    “You shouldn’t be here.” She would not dissolve into tears in front of him. He looked so wonderful. She wanted to touch him, but that would mean he could touch her back and she was far from the woman he thought so sexy back in the bayou. And if her changed appearance didn’t bother him, and he managed to get through her thin armor, she’d fall into his arms and it would start all over again. She’d be swept away, not thinking, and she couldn’t go through another breakup.

    “Where else would I be?” Raoul allowed his hand to drop to his side. “There’s nowhere else I want to be.”

    She rubbed her hand over the bike’s black leather seat. “It looks beautiful. Brand-new.
    Thank you.”

    “You’re welcome. I know how much it means to you.”

    It meant much more now that she knew he’d taken the time to fix it himself. She wasn’t supposed to love any thing or anyone so much that she couldn’t give it up, but she was so very afraid she’d broken her number one rule. “You look good. Tired, but good.”

    “I am tired. It was a long flight and a longer debriefing.”

    “You didn’t write.” Flame slapped her hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant for that to come out. Already she could see his slow, cocky grin spreading. Her heart did a slow meltdown. “Your grandmother was worried.”

    He shook his head. “I don’ think so, cher . I think you were worried about me. You sent me off with no kiss good-bye. No words of love to keep me safe.”

    “We broke up. You don’t get kisses or words of love.”

    “I never broke up. I wouldn’t know how.” His tone was utterly serious. “I can’t live without you, ma belle femme , and that’s a fact.”

    Flame shook her head. “Even if we could get past everything else; what about children?
    You were born to be a father.”

    “You worry so much over things that may or may not happen. I don’ live my life in the future, cher . Your eggs are stored. We can demand them back. Hell, we should anyway, but if it doesn’t work out, we’ll adopt. And if that doesn’t work out, we’ll love each other just fine without all the rest.” He gave her another grin. “I’m lookin’ forward to that part.”

    Flame didn’t know how to react. It was impossible not to love him even with all his sins.
    She sighed softly. “You’re so crazy.”

    He caught her hand, gave a little tug so that she followed him across the room to the large armchair. “I’m tired. Sit on my lap.” He sank into the chair.

    Flame backed away from him. “Oh, no. I’m not getting near you. I know better than that.”

    He steepled his fingers together and regarded her through half-closed eyes. “Let’s get this over with, Flame. I miss you. I miss holding you and kissing you and having you next to me when I sleep at